3 drawings and a brief update...

3 Drawings...I'm a horrible artist- not based on how these look, but that fact that I was given the pictures to draw back in August while I was working on the dog pictures from the previous post and I just finished them yesterday...so much for my "2 week turn around time", huh? Which leads me to my update:
Shortly after my last post I was contacted about a position (you know because I was laid off from my previous awesome job as a receptionist where I could knit and draw and read while at the front desk, in August)...so I started as a temp for a really great company in September- as a receptionist, and they thought I was so awesome at answering phones (I'm being slightly sarcastic here...I really hope it wasn't for my phone skills), they promoted me to the Accounting department after only a few weeks. So I'm now the accounting clerk, which is more like an analyst position, but I'm not going to get into semantics about what my title is...I'm just very thankful to have a job right now, and hope that when my 90 days comes in a few weeks, that they hire me on permanent. So with that being said- I don't get to knit or draw or read books at work anymore. Even when I was the receptionist at the new job, I wasn't allowed to knit or draw or read...which was more than fine with me, because I stayed pretty busy. But because of that, my two week turn around time with drawings, is completely shredded. I work over time a lot at this job- so that means I have to stay late...it's closer to where I live, but even in this awesome Dallas traffic, it takes me an hour to get home, and since I'm actually having to use my brain for the majority of my work day (not that I didn't use my brain at the other job, it was just an easy position that didn't require me to think of outcomes, or do anything further than data entry...), I usually come home and take a nap on the couch...or go to bed by 8pm. Which doesn't really leave a whole lot of time for me to draw...plus in August (prior to the layoff), I joined a knitting group that meets one Saturday every month...we're making The Great American Aran Afghan...so while the class is only one day a month- the knitting part takes up a ton of time.

So in summary- I've been busy. I've neglected the blog. I sleep a lot. I use my brain a lot. I haven't had a lot of time for drawing. But I've drawn. I've knitted. I got a new awesome job at a really great company. Things are looking up. Hopefully I can keep up with the blog- maybe set aside a day a week to catch up. I haven't even checked the blogs I frequent in 2.5 months. I'm a horrible person...I know :P
Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and in the off chance that I don't update, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and whatever else holiday season. Although I'm hoping to get on here around my birthday this year...I'm turning a really great age, that most people my age freak out about- but I'm actually really excited about it...so you know, I'm sure I'll have a story to share.
Take care everyone!

"Molly..." series Complete

"Molly in the Pool"


This was another one of those that I wasn't too sure how it would turn out. I'm still not sure that I'm completely 100% happy with it, but I think it looks pretty good. I enjoyed playing with the ripples in the water and doing the detail of the tile along the side of the pool. I usually ignore the surrounding images in photos I'm drawing from, but it was requested that I keep them in for this picture.


"Molly on Tile"

This was such a sweet image. The dog looked so content and relaxed and like it was a lazy hot Sunday afternoon, best spent getting as much of the cool feel of the tile as possible. The photo was taken at an angle, and originally I did draw it with a straight angle to the floor, but I think having seen it tilted in the photo, made me think the straight on look was boring...so I re-drew it like this...I'm still waiting on the final verdict- to see if they like the tilt, or want me to change it. I personally hope they want it left like this, as there's just something about it drawn like this, that makes me feel like I'm right there on the tile with her, enjoying the cool touch of the floor. I'm sure it would have the same effect if it was straight on too, but I personally like it this way.

"Molly Portrait"

This is such a classic pose. I thought it was perfect to save for the last drawing in the series. And it was wonderful to draw, all that texture in the fur, the light in her eyes, the set of her ears (can you tell she was fixed on someone about to throw a ball or a stick?). I just really thought it was a great image to draw, and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed drawing all of them. The owners were lucky to have such a wonderful dog for so many years that they considered their child. I've been informed that the previous 2 drawings have been help in aiding with coming to terms of losing their beloved Molly, and in a few weeks or months they will be seeking to rescue a new puppy or two- which really makes me feel good about these drawings. I'm glad I could help them receive some closure.

"Molly Rolling in the Grass"

I was leery of drawing this at first, afraid that it would look too flat. I had planned to save this for the last in the "Molly series", but decided to go ahead and tackle my fear head on and just start over if I didn't like it.
I lightened up some of the darker shaded areas from the original photograph- thinking that it might make the drawing look less flat, and I think that was accomplished- at least to my eyes it looks that way. What do you think? Does she look like she's rolling in grass? Or does it just look like she's flat? To me she looks like she's taking a nap...but I can see the depth- can you?

On a side note, I was let go from my full time job yesterday :(, they are downsizing and trying to reduce costs where they can. I completely understand, and there's no hard feelings at all, I'm just bummed because I won't get to see my awesome co-workers everyday, or get drawing requests as they walk by my desk. I think at the moment it all just feels surreal to me. Like thinking about Monday. Do I set an alarm? I need to find a job ASAP, but if I set my alarm to get up early and begin my search, I'm afraid that I'll get up and just start my Monday routine like I've done almost every Monday for the last 3 1/2 years. I don't want to be 1/2 way to my old job and realize "holy crap I don't work there anymore!", but at the same time I'm like "uh...wait a minute, can I really not set an alarm? I mean...is it really ok to go ahead and sleep in?"...It's weird...I haven't been in a position like this in 5 years...being unemployed is awkward for me.
It's bitter sweet too though. I really enjoyed working there, but I can say without a doubt, I will not miss answering the phones. I really hope my next position in life, will not be at the front desk...purely for the fact that I think I'm ready for a bigger challenge...even if that means I can't draw during working hours :P

"Molly by the Pool"

My coworker has been telling me about the pictures of her dog that her husband wanted done for the last year or so. I've finally (happily) been bombarded with them, so prepare yourselves for a festive next few weeks of pictures (which my blog certainly could use more of these days!).

I did complete the second drawing of the couple from the last post...but after scanning them, they look so similar I didn't want to get comments about how I double posted a picture...so I'm not going to post it. But it is happily on it's way to the requester...so hopefully it arrives safely, in a timely manner.

I have been slacking on drawing, which I apologize for. I have 2 jobs now (on top of drawing), as well as a knitting class that I take once a month that leaves me with enough knitting homework, that it takes up my free time...so, I'll work hard to crank out these next few drawings, and then I'll finish my knitted square for the month. But feel free to request drawings to your hearts content...I like staying busy.

Take care everyone! :)

Heidi's grandparents

I love drawing people. It's a fact. I recently saw an episode of NY Ink, where one of the tattoo artists was feeling burned out from tattooing portraits- I understood his feelings, as I went thru something similar not too long ago with drawing portraits. But I really enjoy people watching, which in turn makes me really enjoy people drawing, and thus the cycle begins again.

Heidi recently contacted me about doing 2 drawings of her grandparents, both have recently passed. I don't particularly like the circumstances that surround the reason for the request; but I do feel humbled that someone puts their trust in me to draw someone they love as a memorial for them to cherish for years to come.

Yes you did read that the request was for 2 drawings, yet I'm only posting one. Part of that is because I haven't received approval for the second drawing yet, and the other part is, the second drawing, while it's nearly identical to this drawing posted above...there are some differences. It's really hard to draw the same image twice. #1- there's the burn out factor. Sometimes I feel like "I already drew this", so it's hard to put pencil to a clean sheet of paper just to do the same motions again...and then #2- the person wants 2 drawings of the same photo- which is easy in some respect (you've done one...how hard can the second be?), but one wrong stroke of the pencil can make the entire image look completely different from the first. I don't think the second image looks completely different, but if I look closely I can tell it's not the same drawing (which is a good thing, I think). I think separately they look good, both resemble the original photograph...but they do not completely resemble each other. Either way, I hope that both drawings are received well. It was great to get back into the swing of things. There was just something so right about holding that pencil. :)

Try to stay cool everybody! This summer has been a scorcher!

Back at it!

While I haven't drawn anything in a week or two, I'm deciding my hiatus from taking drawing requests is over. I'm sure I'll still draw a freebie here and there, because when the drawing bug hits, I can't help myself. But if you are interested in having a drawing done from your photograph, please don't hesitate to contact me: ASBTSF@gmail.com. I've updated my website to reflect that I'm taking drawing requests again. Please note the new prices and FAQs before placing your order.

Hope everyone is doing well!

"Morgan"

My mom requested that I draw a picture for a woman that she's been working with. After humming and hawing about it for the last few weeks, I decided to give it a go last Saturday.

"Quit tapping on the glass!"

Something magical happened last week. I wished someone a happy birthday on facebook (someone I don't know personally, but is friends with Gonzo)- and his response was "What did you draw me?" It takes me back a few steps when someone I don't personally know, knows that I draw. Even when it's someone I know through work that asks "what have you been drawing lately?". I don't know why...but it freaks me out (in a good way- sometimes I forget I have a website, a blog and a fan page...and that Gonzo likes to talk about me drawing). So I asked this person what he would like me to draw for him and his response was "a chimp holding an AR-15". I have never drawn a gun before. And I don't condone giving chimps guns (although there are days, when I visit the zoo, that I wonder what a monkey/chimp/orangutan is really thinking when people tap on the glass of their enclosures...I used to know a certain silver back gorilla at the Ft. Worth zoo who HATED children banging on his enclosure.), but this seemed like a relatively quirky thing to draw, so I said "why not" and threw caution to the wind. I had been roughing him out for a few days, and finally just dove head first into it yesterday while at work. Took about 3 hours. While I was drawing him I just kept going "oh this looks like crap!""Why did I draw that line?""Geez, he's probably going to just throw it away, this is such a mess"...I don't know why, but this line of thought goes thru my head for just about every drawing...and then I scan it...and low and behold I'm like a little kid. "Holy crap! I drew that??? Geez! That's awesome!" It's just something about seeing it on a computer screen vs. right in front of me on paper...it's weird. And you know what- it happened with this drawing too. I still have a few issues with the chimp, but the gun looks pretty sweet for a first time drawing a gun...In my opnion. Anyway. I'm drawing. The End.

remember me?

I feel it's time for an update- but I have no pictures to share- so I'm sorry in advance. You remember the drawing I was talking about in the last post (2 months ago...), I haven't touched it since I wrote that. He's sitting on a couch in between pages of a sketchbook. I've doodled some, and done a whole lot of thinking "I should really draw something" and then not picking up a pencil. It's like writers block only with art...artist-block? Which is painful no matter what it's called. I got so frustrated and paniced that I haven't drawn anything to completion, that I went so far as to contact a long lost "friend"* and ask for them to send me a photo of a drawing I did for them 10 years ago and never took a picture of- in hopes of the magical "thing" that makes me draw would be awakened...after sending a rambling email, then cursing myself the minute I sent it for sounding like a crazy person asking for "magical images of long lost creative art"- a friend posted a photo on Facebook of her daughter. A really adorable photo, which I stole** (in this case it's really not like stealing, it's saving an image to be used to make great things- to be sent to the parents FREE of charge- no stealing, I borrowed. an image. online. Not stealing. at least not in this case) I started drawing it...last Thursday. It's small scale- 8 x 10"...and then I had to run an errand. It felt really good to draw. I'll get back to it- someday. You know what felt even better while I was drawing it though? The fact that it's a surprise and no one knows that I'm drawing it (you don't even really know the exact image I'm talking about- so even you, dear reader, have no idea...more of the surprise factor there). I think I like drawing "surprises" more than taking orders for custom drawings. Sure free surprises don't help pay any bills, but if it doesn't make me happy then why do it? I like the free surprises and I'm sure a lot of people enjoy that I like making free surprises. **To those people who think I'm giving you permission to steal/save images from the web and do whatever with- I'm not saying that. You should always ask permission before using an image you find on the web (or even in print for that matter)- you should make every effort possible to contact the owner of the image before using it (or at least give credit to the source). If you never receive permission- you should move on to something different. That's just my 2 cents. In my case- this is a friend, who I know won't mind that I'm using her photo- especially since she's getting a drawing because of it. *And to my "friend" from 10 years ago- if you ever read this- I'm so sorry for the rambling-crazy-sounding message. You make me nervous. Plus there's really no good way to say "I lost my mojo for drawing! Help me help myself by taking a photo of that thing I drew for you forever ago"...I guess if I didn't sound crazy you might not have believed it was me asking for it. I will continue to live with this art-block and hope that it goes away soon, because I miss posting pictures for all to see- and I've been told I have "secret followers"! Which makes me giddy. But also sad, because you are having to read blocks of text instead of seeing images. I'll work on it, promise (I'll work on it even for those that follow so boldly- all 9 of you- I love you 9, but I also will secretly love my secret followers too- don't worry I blog stalk people all the time without publicly following them..hehehe).

My oh my

(warning!!! Word heavy!!! And no pictures!!!!)

Where is the time going? I have been one giant lazy lump this month!
Still on a semi-break from drawing (not really, but I really don't want to share what I have been doodeling). I knitted there for awhile and set a pretty big goal of knitting one hat and one scarf every month to give to a charity at the end of the year (so 12 hats and 12 scarves by December...)- I'm ahead of my quota so far, but I haven't knitted anything in February. I'm attempting to re-teach myself how to crochet since it's been almost 10 years since I have crochet anything. I'll be honest, I never learned to read patterns back then...I didn't even know what the abbreviations stood for. Now that I picked up and love knitting, I thought I would learn crocheting the right way. If only the phones would stop ringing at work for me to pick it up and keep count of the stitches...Wondering if now is the best time to try to learn something, when I should stick with my original quota...

I will share with you that I have been drawing. In fact I picked up this years Vanity Fair- Oscar's edition based on the famous faces in the photos. I thought I would go back to my roots of drawing (man that makes me sound old!), of drawing famous people from the pages of magazines. I drew a picture of Minnie Driver, which looks absolutely horrible! Drawing on a curved surface (new sketchbook- won't lay flat), from a curved surface (magazine, which also won't lay flat) caused it to come out all wonkie- I'm sure if you looked at 1" sections you would be able to recognize her- but overall it's a giant mess.
Then this weekend I decided I needed to make something on a bigger scale, so I grabbed my 11" x 14" sketchbook, and ripped the page from Vanity Fair that has Jeff Bridges' picture on it, out of the magazine (no curves this time!...The Sketchbook is spiral bound- thank God!) So, I'm working on that now. It's bigger and I'm really paying close attention to detail, so it'll be awhile before it's done. I've had to redraw the nose 4 times already, so there's no telling when I'll be finished, or if I'll like the final product. Hopefully I'll be able to post the completed work, whether I like it or not :)
While drawing Mr. Bridges, though, I realized- I used to be so good at drawing the 8"x10" drawings for everyone that I rushed thru them, a lot of the time. Don't get me wrong, I still drew what people wanted and with details, but I don't think I ever stopped and really LOOKED at the photos, and examined the photos details. I think I got so wrapped up in the "2 week turn around? I can have this sucker done in 2 hours!" that I stopped really seeing what I should have been seeing. So I'm taking my time with Mr. Bridges. I spent about an hour just looking at his right eye and getting the proportions correct and adding wrinkles with just the right shading. At this rate, I'll be done with it in a year :)

Oh and on a side note, I watched the movie "The Cool School" this weekend. I don't really know what to feel about it. I like watching documentaries...particularly ones about art (because they usually make me want to pick up a pencil or brush...which this one did)- but this one just left me feeling kind of void. #1 I have always hated pop art. At least when it comes to Andy Warhol- it's like he was making a big joke of art- or saying "this is so easy anyone can do it"- which has always infuriated me (They only talk about him for about 15 minutes). But then they were showing what kind of competition exsisted in this group of artists back in the 60s, which made me kind of sad. They would make complete crap, and know it was complete crap, but they wanted to have their stuff in this gallery, so they would hang it and silently be freaking out, but having a cocky attitude about it while the show was going on. It was just a little wierd to me, watching that movie and seeing these old artists relive their hayday...I'm glad I wasn't an artist in the 60s.
But about pop art...now I've become a fan of Banksy, which is pop art in a way- I loved "Exit Through The Gift Shop", even though it wasn't about Banksy (or was it? :P). I love the street art phenomina that's happening, that's clashing with pop art to create something vivid and real and new(ish). I don't care for Mr. Brainwash, and even while the movie was going on I took moments to go "He can't be serious" (and that was before I read online reviews about the movie). But I do like Banksy, and I'm probably partially crazy because I take time to look at the graffiti that's left around town to SEE it...really SEE it. I think it's amazing what can be accomplished with a spray paint can and a little imagination.

hands

I'm still drawing, from time to time :)
This one is with a black ball point pen in a sketch book- from a photograph in an Anatomy book.

Hello? Is this thing on?

Hello 2011...hehe. I meant to write this last week.
Changes they are a-happening. Thank you for that new year. I've been knitting, and writing- but not drawing.
I have a bit of drawing-block right now. I tried to draw some yesterday when I thought the mood was stricking, but for whatever reason I just couldn't draw anything of interest. I've been interested in painting lately, but- well...I don't really have an excuse for not breaking out the brushes, other than pure lazyness.
I went to the Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival last weekend. A lot of really talented artists were there. But I was sick (I'm still sick), so I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have. I didn't even find myself remotely curious in getting tattooed. I was just all sorts of off my game. But the art, in their little gallery was stunning, to say the least. Really puts my stuff to shame, but encourages me to keep at it. So yes. While I don't have anything to show you now, hopefully the block will be lifted soon and I will have some pretty little images to share with you.
Hope everyone's 2011 is off to a good start!